Baked Garlic Potatoes

This is a great recipe that is super simple and very savory

Ingredients
- 3 red skin potatoes washed and finely sliced
- 4 gloves garlic
- 1/2 can cream of mushroom soup
- 1/4 cup whole milk
- 2 tbs extra virgin olive oil (EVOO)
- 1/4 cup cheese
- 2 tbs bacon bits

1. pour 1 tbs EVOO in the bottom of your baking dish

2. place one layer of the sliced potatoes in the bottom

3. finely dice the garlic

4. put 1/5 the garlic sprinkled over the potatoes, also sprinkle with pepper

5. repeat the layers of potato garlic and sprinkled pepper until all the potatoes are in the dish. Then drizzle the remaining EVOO over the top

6. Mix the cream of mushroom soup and the milk

7. Pour this over the potatoes

8. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour

9. sprinkle the cheese and bacon bits over the potatoes and return to the oven until just melted and bubbly.

Serve!

Chocolate Cheesecake Swirl Brownies!

These are a super chocolaty, gooey brownie with a delectable cheesecake swirled over the top. Delicious and fancy, this recipe is sure to be a hit!

Ingredients
Cheesecake
1 egg
8 oz cream cheese softened
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla

Brownie
2 eggs
4 oz 60% cocoa
1 stick butter
3/4 brown sugar
1/2 cup flour

Directions
1. In a large mixing bowl combine the cream cheese and the sugar, mix until smooth. Add the vanilla and the beaten egg and mix until all is smooth and consistent.

2. Grease an 8X8 brownie pan with unsalted butter and dust with flour or cocoa powder

3. Preheat the oven to 325 Degrees

4. Melt the butter and the chocolate together, if using the microwave be sure to stop and stir every 10 seconds to prevent burning the mixture.

5. Beat the eggs

6. Stir the chocolate with the brown sugar and then mix in the eggs

7. gently stir in the flour and mix until just combined

8. pour 2/3 of the brownie mixture into the greased pan, then pour the cheesecake mixture over the top of it. Drop the remaining brownie mixture over that in big globs.

9. Using a knife or a toothpick draw lines back and forth, gently through the mixture to create the swirled appearance.

10. Bake at 325 degrees for 35- 40 minutes or until just set in the center, the brownie should still have a gooey consistency, it will set further as it cools

11. Allow the brownie to fully cool then serve small portions with a tall glass of milk

Makes 16 small brownies

Chicken Salad

Adam loves chicken salad, and asked if I could make some up for him, this is what I came up with.

Ingredients
- 2 chicken breasts
- 2 tbs oil
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1/3 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tsp honey
- 1 tsp mustard
- 1/4 tsp celery salt
- 1 tsp dried minced onion
- salt and pepper to taste

Start by cubing the chicken and cooking it in the 2 tbs oil. Once cooked all the way through chill for several hours. In the meantime combine the mayo, mustard and honey, stir until well combined. Add in the oil and other remaining ingredients and stir thoroughly once again. Refrigerate until chicken is cooled. Stir the chicken and the sauce together until all chicken is coated. Serve as a sandwich filling or on top of a salad.

Coffee Cake

Ingredients
-1 stick butter
-1 1/2 cups flour
-1 cup packed brown sugar
-1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
-1 teaspoon cinnamon
-1/2 teaspoon salt
-1 egg, beaten
-1/2 cup milk

Frosting
- 1 tbs butter
- 2 tbs cream cheese
- 1/2 cup confectioners sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Mix the butter and the dry batter ingredients until a crumbly cornmeal type texture has formed. Remove 1/2 cup to be used later as a crumb topping. Mix the egg with the milk and then mix this into the rest of the ingredients. Stir until just combined. Pour into a greased and lightly floured 8 x8 pan then top with the reserved crumbs. Bake fir 30- 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near center comes out clean.

To prepare the frosting mix the softened butter and cream cheese until well combined, then stir in the vanilla and sugar until everything is a nice even creamy consistency.

When the cake is done drizzel with the frosting and serve warm or room temperature.

Store any remaining portions tightly covered and at room temperature.

Southwestern Black Bean and Chicken Soup

Ingredients
- 3 cans low sodium chicken stock
- 1 cup dried black beans, washed and soaked over night
- 4 medium potatoes peeled and very thinly sliced
- 2 tbs olive oil
-3 medium carrots peeled and very thinly sliced
- 1 cup corn (frozen)
- 1/2 cup chopped green pepper (fresh or frozen)
- 2 cups cooked diced chicken
- 5 cloves garlic
- salt
- pepper
- 1 cup medium salsa
- cheese
- dried minced onion

In a large pot bring the broth to boil and add in the black beans, carrots, potatoes and dried minced onion. In a skillet gently cook the 5 cloves of garlic in 2 tbs olive oil. Once softened add the garlic to the pot. Reduce heat to medium low and cook for 2 hours slowly. Then run all of the soup through a food processor until its thick and creamy. (if its too thick add more broth or water, if its too thin add a mashed potato or potato flakes if you have them on hand)

Cook the chicken in the garlic infused oil until browned and after the two hours of cooking the beans add the chicken, corn, and green peppers. Return to simmer and cook for an additional hour.

Just before serving stir in 1 cup of medium salsa, serve in a bowl sprinkle with cheese and have a bowl of tortilla chips near by for dipping in the healthy hearty soup.

Chocolate Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Brownies

Ingredients:

- ½ cup butter
- ¼ cup canola oil
- ½ cup white sugar
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1 egg
- 2 tsp vanilla
- ½ cup peanut butter
- ¼ cup coco powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp baking soda
- 1 ¼ cup flour

Directions
1. Mix ingredients by hand in the order listed above adding each and stirring until just combined.
2. Bake at 350 degrees for 18-20 minutes, until toothpick comes out clean
Notes:
- DO NOT over cook! Will be gooey until cooled!
- Cool, Slice and serve with milk!
- These brownies get better the next day when stored at room temperature loosely covered with saran wrap.

Sautéed Green beans

Ingredients:
- 3-4 cloves garlic
- ½ lb green beans
- 2 tbs olive oil

Directions:
Mince the garlic and then cook in the olive oil until tender, toss in the green beans and sauté over medium heat until hot and tender throughout. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste